Radiculopathy: Relief for Pinched Nerve Pain
in Charleston SC

Are you experiencing symptoms of radiculopathy in Charleston SC? Nerves leave your spinal cord through small openings between the bones of your spine. They carry messages to your arms, legs, and the rest of your body. When something squeezes or irritates one of these nerve roots, it is called radiculopathy. Most people know it as a "pinched nerve."

Because the nerve travels a long way, the pain often shows up far from where the problem starts. A pinched nerve in your neck can make your hand tingle. A pinched nerve in your lower back can send pain down your leg. This is why your spine may be the key to pain you feel in your arms or legs.

Types of radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy starts in the neck and affects the shoulders, arms, and hands.
Thoracic radiculopathy starts in the mid-back and can cause pain that wraps around the ribs or belly.
Lumbar radiculopathy starts in the lower back and affects the hips, legs and feet. When it involves the sciatic nerve, it is often called sciatica.

What are the signs and symptoms of radiculopathy?

Sharp, shooting, or burning pain that travels down an arm or a leg
Numbness, tingling, or a "pins and needles" feeling in the hand, fingers, leg, or foot
Weakness, such as trouble gripping objects or a foot that drags
Pain that gets worse when you cough, sneeze, sit, or move your neck a certain way
Pain on one side of the body more than the other
Neck or back pain along with arm or leg symptoms

What causes radiculopathy?

Herniated or bulging disc. The soft center of a disc pushes out and presses on a nerve.
Degenerative disc disease. Thinning discs shrink the space where nerves exit.
Bone spurs and arthritis. Extra bone growth can crowd a nerve.
Spinal stenosis. The spaces in the spine narrow over time.
Injury. Falls, lifting, or accidents can cause swelling or damage near a nerve.

Radiculopathy or neuropathy?

Both can cause numbness, tingling, and burning. Radiculopathy comes from a nerve being pinched near the spine, so it usually follows one path down one arm or leg. Peripheral neuropathy is damage to nerves farther out in the body, often from diabetes. It usually starts in both feet or both hands. Some people have both. Because we treat nerve problems and spine problems, we look for both and treat what we find.

How we diagnose radiculopathy

We ask exactly where you feel pain, numbness, or weakness, because the pattern tells us which nerve is involved. We perform a series of neurological exams that test your strength, reflexes and feeling in your arms and legs. When needed, we use X-rays, an MRI, or nerve tests to confirm the cause.

How we treat radiculopathy

Spinal decompression to gently create space and ease pressure off the nerve
Chiropractic adjustments to improve how your spine moves
Therapeutic exercises to strengthen supporting muscles
Therapies to reduce pain and swelling around the irritated nerve through Red/NIR Light

How long does a pinched nerve last? Many pinched nerves get better within weeks to a few months with the right care. Getting help early can speed things up.

Is sciatica the same as radiculopathy? Sciatica is a type of lumbar radiculopathy. It means a nerve root that forms the sciatic nerve is irritated, causing pain down the back of the leg.